Finger operated rotatable tool



April 1947- D. B. HOOVER 2,418,638

FINGER OPERATED ROTATABLE TOOL Filed June 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor flank/42 B. Hoax 5,2,

a EMWHE) April 8, 1947. D. B. HOOVER 2,418,638

FINGER OPERATED ROTATABLE TOOL I Filed June 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irzveyztar .DHN/fl. B. Ham/2,

By 2mm .W MMW Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,418,638 a FINGER OPERATED ROTATABLE TOOL Daniel B. Hoover, Meadville, Pa. Application June 22, 1944, Serial No. 541,496

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in combination tools of the convertible type.

The invention is designed with the primary objects i view of providing a simply constructed, shock proof, tool which may be used either as a socket wrench or a screw driver for removing and replacing small nuts and screws in inaccessible places, such as under the dashboard or instrument panel of automobiles, and which is designed for operation by one hand and for connection with the nuts and screws by the sense of touch so that the other hand of the operator may be free for use as occasion may require.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and formin part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention and the manner in which it is used on the forefinger of a hand,

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the tool converted for use as a screw driver,

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of the tool converted for use as a screw driver,

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the insulation disc.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the basic element of my improved combination tool is a cylindrical thimble I of the required diameter and length to fit over the forefinger of a hand, as shown in Figure 1, and whichis formed of any suitable rigid insulation material and provided with a front end web 2 axially bored, as at. 3, to receive the head of a screw 4 extended forwardly from said web, the head of the screw being rotatable in the bore 3. A transversely polygonal shaft 5 extends forwardly from said web 2 axially of the thimble and into the rear end of which the screw 4 is turned thereby securing the shaft to said web 2. The shaft 5 forms the shank of a screw driver and has its front end reduced and forming a bit 6.

Fitted over the front end of the thimble l for manual rotation thereon, as by the'thumb and second finger of the hand, is a knurled cap piece 7 7 having an axial polygonal openin 8 therein fitting around the shaft 5. The cap piece I may be formed of any light insulation material and is additionally connected to the shaft 5 to rotate the same by means of a flat, knurled steel washer 9 fitting over the inner end of the shaft 5 and cemented in a recess Ill provided in the cap piece 7. A disc ll of insulation, preferably a plastic, is cemented in the thimble I against the web 2 and covers the head of the screw 4.

A tubular wrench socket member l2 extends forwardly from the shaft 5, said member having a polygonal internal bore l3 for fitting nuts, not shown, and which is reduced at one end of the member to fit over the shaft 5 for rotation of the member by said shaft. The member I 2 is detachably secured on the shaft 5 by a spring pressed ball l4 adapted to project from a lateral recess l 5 in the shaft and to frictionally engage the bore l3. The member I2 may be formed of any suitable light, strong metal. A forwardly tapering, cap-like, guard sleeve l6 of plastic insulation material is provided on the member l2 and which is sleeved forwardly over said member. A plug-like cork spacer I1 is fitted in the member l2 against the bit end of the shaft 5 with, one end spaced suitably from the outer end of the member l2 to provide a cushion backing for nuts in said member I2.

As will be readily understood, rotation of the cap piece I will impart rotation to the shaft 5 and screw 4, and the shaft 5 will drive the member l2 for use of the same as a socket wrench. Also, and as shown in Figure 4, the socket wrench member I2 may be pulled off the shaft 5 for use of the latter as a screw driver.

The described tool is of particular utility in operating on nuts and screws in connection with hot, or live, wiring without endangering the operator to shocks and without grounding circuits blowing out fuses, or injuring electrical equipment such as ammeters, gauges, and so fort-h. As will be obvious, the described tool is also particularly adapted for use by automobile mechanics and operators in repair and replacement of nuts and screws under the instrument panels of automobiles without necessitating crawling under the panels to inspect, it being merely necessary for the operator to sit on the front seat and connect the tool with the nuts or screws by feeling out i the location and necessary positioning of the tool with the hand equipped with the thimble I.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suillce to im- 3 part a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim,

What I claim is:

In a device of the class deSQribed, a hollow casing having a closed front end and adapted to be sleeved onto the forefinger of one hand of the user, a cap rotatable on said closed front end for manipulation rotatably by the thumb and second finger of the hand While the casing is sleeved onto the forefinger, a shaft passing through the center of the cap and connected thereto for rotation therewith, means for rotatably connecting the shaft and cap with the closed end of the casing, and a rotatable tool on one end of the shaft, said means comprising a screw threaded into the otherend of said shaft with a head rotatable in said closed. front end of the casing, and a knurled disk-like member fast on said shaft and recessed into said cap in interlocking engagement therewith to prevent said shaft from Working loose on said screw.

DANIEL B. HOOVER.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Austrian Sept. 10; 1937. 

